Saw a couple secret cars today

[Topweasel]

Nice! Never seen a test car. Lived in Lansing for awhile. Too cold for my tastes. 404: Will not return

I feel for you. Lived in lansing for almost my whole life and spent 6 years comutting to Novi (no living in Livonia). I see tons of mules as far west as Fowlerville, but never in Lansing or the area, you would think that with the Caddy plant and the olds plant before it you would see some.

 

[Topweasel]

The fork wheels and the tail pipes gotta make it a Ford product. Like others, I'm guessing MKZ.

The MKZ literally just had a complete redesign, they aren't redoing it in a year. Even if it was a small facia change they wouldn't go to town on the camo like that.

 

[ultimatebob]

Probably a Ford product. The exhaust outlets are a giveaway.

The exhaust looks like it came from a Suzuki Kizashi!

 

[Topweasel]

If I had to guess is that it is a MKS, which should look similar to the Fusion and MKS as it's uses an extended version of the platform.

 

[TheUnk]

To build hype/get press. It's all a big game.

Yeah if it didn't have camo on, 99% of drivers wouldn't look twice at it =p

 

[nerp]

Yes. It's not like they don't have private testing facilities to use. How much are they going to get a feel for a car with 200lbs of plastic cladding bolted on anyway?

 

[iamwiz82]

Yes. It's not like they don't have private testing facilities to use. How much are they going to get a feel for a car with 200lbs of plastic cladding bolted on anyway?

Real world miles are much more useful when it comes to testing. The engineers beat the crap out of them and document what breaks.

 

[nerp]

Real world miles are much more useful when it comes to testing. The engineers beat the crap out of them and document what breaks.

Point taken.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I wish they sold cars with that crazy zebralike pattern as their paint scheme That would be awesome.

 

[exar333]

too cold

The adhesive won't set unless its a certain temp for a certain time.

Replace it inside?

 

[rudeguy]

Replace it inside?

:shrug: I guess

Its just not a big deal. I've had cracked windshields more winters than not. If I don't start out the winter with one, chances are I'll end it with one. It gets replaced in the spring so no big deal.

Maybe its a Michigan thing? I just never thought of it as something to worry about.

 

[rudeguy]

Real world miles are much more useful when it comes to testing. The engineers beat the crap out of them and document what breaks.

And just imagine the infinite variables:
Heat, humidity, speed, wind, salt, air temp, etc.

I'm sure they hqve really cool labs to test in but doing 75 down the highway for 2 hours will give you real data.

Do they do city testing over by you? I've only seen them on the highway...well 96 to be honest.

 

[Gillbot]

You can't easily simulate hilly roads and other variables in a test facility.

 

[iamwiz82]

And just imagine the infinite variables:
Heat, humidity, speed, wind, salt, air temp, etc.

I'm sure they hqve really cool labs to test in but doing 75 down the highway for 2 hours will give you real data.

Do they do city testing over by you? I've only seen them on the highway...well 96 to be honest.

Yep, almost daily. I see M plates all the time in Metro Detroit. I could throw a rock and hit a major VW/Audi office and Chrysler's HQ, so it comes with the territory.

 

[SparkyJJO]

yep, I average one a year

Zero deductible on glass is a must.

The heck?

I've been driving for 9 years and over 150k miles and have never had a broken windshield

 

[rudeguy]

The heck?

I've been driving for 9 years and over 150k miles and have never had a broken windshield

Really? What state?

Maybe its just me then. I just took it for granted that it was a common thing. This current one was the usual; driving down the highway and a semi launched a rock. Sounded like a gunshot when it hit and I almost messed my pants. Figured I only had a few weeks before the cold set in so there wasn't much point in getting it replaced.

You guys have to be messing with me....

 

[nerp]

It happens to me. Only when my car is new, though. Give me a 20-year-old beater that leaks oil and I won't see a spec of dust. But a new car, that thing is a sand/rock magnet.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Really? What state?

Maybe its just me then. I just took it for granted that it was a common thing. This current one was the usual; driving down the highway and a semi launched a rock. Sounded like a gunshot when it hit and I almost messed my pants. Figured I only had a few weeks before the cold set in so there wasn't much point in getting it replaced.

You guys have to be messing with me....

I'm in Ohio. I drive interstate almost every day as well. I've driven to the surrounding states, driven taller and shorter vehicles, and have had my share of rocks thrown at the car from dump trucks, semis, etc, but never have had a cracked or broken windshield. Heck I had some dumb kid throw a large chunk of packed ice from a bridge while I was on the highway and while it scared the crap out of me when it hit (sounded like a bomb going off) the glass was still OK. I have had a couple rock chips, yes, but that's it.

Maybe you just keep getting cheap glass

 

[iamwiz82]

I'm in Ohio. I drive interstate almost every day as well. I've driven to the surrounding states, driven taller and shorter vehicles, and have had my share of rocks thrown at the car from dump trucks, semis, etc, but never have had a cracked or broken windshield. Heck I had some dumb kid throw a large chunk of packed ice from a bridge while I was on the highway and while it scared the crap out of me when it hit (sounded like a bomb going off) the glass was still OK. I have had a couple rock chips, yes, but that's it.

Maybe you just keep getting cheap glass

I've never had a windshield break yet either ::knocks on wood::

 

[rudeguy]

I'm in Ohio. I drive interstate almost every day as well. I've driven to the surrounding states, driven taller and shorter vehicles, and have had my share of rocks thrown at the car from dump trucks, semis, etc, but never have had a cracked or broken windshield. Heck I had some dumb kid throw a large chunk of packed ice from a bridge while I was on the highway and while it scared the crap out of me when it hit (sounded like a bomb going off) the glass was still OK. I have had a couple rock chips, yes, but that's it.

Maybe you just keep getting cheap glass

Well what the crap?

Now I'm self conscious about my window cracking. Until this thread I had no clue it was just me.

This sucks.

 

[Ferzerp]

Me either on the glass.

 

[Topweasel]

Went 200k miles across 3 cars before I had my first crack that spread. My dad not driving a whole let more goes through at least one a year. Funny thing was that crack happened once I moved the closest to work I have ever lived.

 

[Gillbot]

I'm in Ohio. I drive interstate almost every day as well. I've driven to the surrounding states, driven taller and shorter vehicles, and have had my share of rocks thrown at the car from dump trucks, semis, etc, but never have had a cracked or broken windshield. Heck I had some dumb kid throw a large chunk of packed ice from a bridge while I was on the highway and while it scared the crap out of me when it hit (sounded like a bomb going off) the glass was still OK. I have had a couple rock chips, yes, but that's it.

Maybe you just keep getting cheap glass

I'm in Ohio and on my old minivan I went through 7 windshields in 2 years. Luckily, now I have my truck I haven't replaced one but the van was a rock magnet.